Campbell was born and raised in Port Jervis. She received her law degree from the New York Law School in New York City and she also studied at Orange County Community College and SUNY New Paltz.

She got her start in law under the tutelage of Henry J. Holley P.C. in Port Jervis. After being appointed City Court judge in 1996, she moved her practice to Sussex Street. In 2005, she made her final move to her larger, newly renovated office on Broome Street.